AP Biology 8.2 Test

What is ecology?

The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

What does the biosphere encompass?

The sum of all the planet's ecosystems.

What is an ecosystem?

A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting in an area.

What is community ecology?

The study of the whole array of interacting species in a community.

What does population ecology focus on?

Factors affecting population size and dynamics.

What are biotic factors that affect species distribution?

Predation, herbivory, mutualism, parasitism, and competition.

What abiotic factors influence the distribution of organisms?

Temperature, water and oxygen availability, salinity, sunlight, rocks, and soil.

Why is temperature important for organisms?

It affects biological processes; most organisms function best within a specific temperature range.

How does water availability affect species distribution?

It influences oxygen availability and organisms' adaptations for water conservation.

What role does sunlight play in ecosystems?

It is the energy source for photosynthetic organisms and can limit their distribution.

What is energy flow in ecosystems?

The movement of energy through an ecosystem, primarily from sunlight to producers and then to consumers.

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

What does the second law of thermodynamics state?

Every exchange of energy increases the entropy of the universe.

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Matter cannot be created or destroyed; it is recycled within ecosystems.

What are carbon sources and sinks?

Sources release more carbon than they absorb (e.g., burning fossil fuels), while sinks absorb more carbon than they release (e.g., oceans, forests).

What are endotherms?

Organisms that use thermal energy generated by metabolism to maintain body temperatures.

What is the significance of energy capture and use in organisms?

Organisms have various strategies to acquire and use energy for metabolism and survival.

What is ecosystem dynamics?

The interplay of energy flow and matter cycling within an ecosystem.

What is the role of rocks and soil in ecosystems?

They have characteristics that limit the distribution of plants and thus affect the animals that feed on them.

How does salinity affect aquatic organisms?

It affects their water balance and restricts them to either freshwater or saltwater habitats.

What is the relationship between photosynthesis and sunlight?

Most photosynthesis occurs near the surface of aquatic environments where sunlight is available.

What are ectotherms?

Organisms that regulate their temperature through behavior, such as moving into the sun or shade.

How does metabolic rate relate to organism size?

The smaller the organism, the faster the metabolic rate.

What are autotrophs?

Organisms that capture energy from the environment; includes photosynthetic organisms that release oxygen and chemosynthesizers that typically do not.

What is primary production?

The amount of photosynthesis measured by the biomass accumulated in a given time period.

What is secondary production?

The amount of biomass accumulated by a consumer in a given period from consuming chemical energy.

What role do detritivores play in ecosystems?

They derive energy from detritus, or nonliving organic matter, and recycle nutrients across trophic levels.

What is the difference between biennial and annual reproductive strategies?

Biennial plants have a two-year reproductive cycle, while annual plants complete their life cycle in one year.

What is diapause?

A delay in development due to adverse environmental conditions, allowing organisms to survive until conditions improve.

How do nutrient limitations affect primary production in aquatic ecosystems?

Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are often limiting factors that must be added for production to increase.

What is eutrophication?

A process caused by nutrient runoff that leads to high productivity and can result in the loss of fish species.

What is the relationship between moisture and primary production in terrestrial ecosystems?

Primary production increases with moisture availability.

What is trophic efficiency?

The percentage of production transferred from one trophic level to the next, usually about 10%.

What is biomagnification?

The process where toxins become more concentrated in the tissues of organisms at higher trophic levels.

What is the significance of energy transfer in food chains?

Only a small fraction of energy fixed by photosynthesis reaches higher trophic levels, leading to energy loss at each step.

What are the effects of inbreeding in small populations?

Inbreeding can lead to a loss of genetic diversity, reduced adaptability, and increased extinction risk.

What is the impact of solar radiation on photosynthesis?

Only a small fraction of solar energy reaches photosynthetic organisms, limiting their output.

What is the role of decomposers in ecosystems?

Decomposers recycle nutrients and connect all trophic levels, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling.

How does energy storage relate to organism growth?

A net gain in energy leads to energy storage and growth, while a net loss results in loss of mass.

What is the photic zone in aquatic ecosystems?

The depth of water where light penetration allows for photosynthesis, typically limited to the first 15 meters.

What factors limit primary production in marine environments?

Nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, often limits primary production in marine ecosystems.